It seems to be the first time a county board cried “stop” in relation to the cost of team management. Last year, Kernan requested and was given a management package that included fitness experts Paul Hatton and John McCloskey – and with all three hailing from Ulster, then that meant a great deal of commuting.

It all added up to hefty travelling expenses for the year and the Galway chairman John Joe Holleran and his executive decided the county could no longer afford this expensive package. Kernan sent in his resignation, which was accepted this week.

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